The White House declared in a statement that the attack “fits into a pattern of behaviour in which Russia disregards the international rules-based order, undermines the sovereignty and security of countries worldwide, and attempts to subvert and discredit Western democratic institutions and processes”.

“Now one member stands accused of using chemical weapons on the sovereign soil of another.

“The credibility of this council will not survive if we fail to hold Russia to account.”

As tensions between the UK and Russia start to mount, Evgenny Primakov Jr, known as a “trusted representative” of Putin, declared that relations between the two nations could struggle to recover.

He asked both sides to “make a step backwards and calm down a bit”.

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Evgenny Primakov Jr is known as a 'trusted representative' of Vladimir Putin

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Nikki Haley warned that 'immediate concrete measures' need to be taken

He went on: “Frankly, in Moscow, we are in shock. The whole thing looks insane. No one here believes this was a Russian attack.”

Mr Primakov instead hinted that the incident surrounding Mr Skripal was a plot to influence the upcoming election in Russia.

He also told The Telegraph: "We are absolutely sure, 100 per cent sure, that the whole thing is aimed at our elections. In my personal opinion, I'm absolutely sure Sergei Skripal was poisoned by the British or American secret services.

"The idea is to make our election look illegitimate. [For Russia] to commit such a thing a week before the presidential election is insane. And when we try to explain our position we are told, 'Russia is an evil empire and you do it deliberately because you do it.’ "